Quote from: KiloKAHN on June 22, 2017, 06:25:17 PMPeople really have to stop repeating this as if it were an absolute truth. Chances are that lengthening as a taller person will make it so it takes longer to reach complications like contracture, but that's still only 'on average". Some people genetically have more resistant soft tissues than others and there have been a lot of instances where someone genetically short has no such issues whereas a guy starting at 5'11 develops equinus contracture after only 1 cm of distraction. Not to mention it doesnt even take into account all of the other complications that can happen in the operating room or things like deep bone infection, which starting height certainly doesn't protect you against. That's why encouraging anyone to get a cosmetic surgery like this is irresponsible, especially to someone who is at a perfectly fine starting height.
Of course the common response from tall guys who want this to be taller is "Oh you're just jealous that you'll never be this tall." But one day there will be an unlucky 6'2er who gets this to be his dream 6'4 and ends up regretting it because he never really considered that permanent aches and pains and premature arthritis would become part of his new reality.
FINALLY someone with common sense and responsibility in this forum. We should never say to someone you should do a LL even if they are below average and they could "benefit". We should never tell the 5'3 guy to do both segments because if he doesn't reach 5'7-8 is not good enough. LL is not necessary for anybody, if you can be happy with your short height (or tall if we take seriously some of these guys), then I congratulate you for being the better man.
What I think we should do is to try to deter people from this surgery. However, if they are so stubborn and unhappy about their heights, then we've got their back. Then, we suggest to them doing the least amount of cm they would be happy with, in the safest way.